Infinite looping code. Why?

Question

Hi,
Have 2 rules. Rule 1, searches IdM repository for users matching params entered by a user. This rule generates a list as [GenericObject:000001,GenericObject:000034]. I pass this list to the searchResultList variable in rule below (Rule2) which (atlease I expect to) gets teh firstname aand sotre number from the GenericObjects in the list generated by Rule1.However, Rule2 always goes in a infinite loop, adn I dont understand why? Can any one help me pleae?
<block trace='true'>
  <defvar name='displaysearchlist'>
    <dolist name='searchlist'>
      <ref>searchResultList</ref>
      <defvar name='displaystring1'>
        <get>
          <ref>searchlist</ref>
          <s>firstname</s>
        </get>
      </defvar>
      <defvar name='displaystring2'>
        <get>
          <ref>searchlist</ref>
          <s>storenumber</s>
        </get>
      </defvar>
      <append name='displaysearchlist'>
        <concat>
          <ref>displaystring1</ref>
          <s> - </s>
          <ref>displaystring2</ref>
        </concat>
      </append>
    </dolist>
  </defvar>
  <ref>displaysearchlist</ref>
</block>Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

When you use the defvar the variable isn't actually created until it is referenced, which then goes back and uses the code to set the variable. So the defvar outside the list is evaluated when you call the displaysearchlist inside the dolist, creating the infinite loop.
since you are appending the list inside the dolist, use defvar name displaysearchlist, then set it to null.
ie
<defvar name='displaysearchlist'/>
<set name='displaysearchlist'>
<null/>
</set>
<dolist...
David